LYNCHBURG, Va. – Gardner-Webb plated two early runs, but 30th-ranked Coastal Carolina scored three unanswered in the middle innings and held off a ninth inning charge for 3-2 win over the Runnin’ Bulldogs in the second round of the Big South Conference Tournament Wednesday.

The Runnin’ Bulldogs (29-26-1) will battle No. 7 seed Longwood on Thursday at 3 p.m. in an elimination game. The Lancers swept Gardner-Webb during the regular season series in Farmville, Va., winning a pair of one-run games. Coastal Carolina (37-19) gets a day off before playing in Friday’s semifinals.

It marked the 21st one-run game of the season for both Gardner-Webb and Coastal Carolina.

With his team down 3-2, Henry Rundio belted a long single to left to lead off the top of the ninth, and moved to third on a hit-and-run single through the right side by Scott Johnson. Disaster struck moments later to dampen the momentum. Pinch runner Alex Newman was picked off at first base for the first out of the inning, and Ryan Connolly fanned Danny Yelverton with a changeup for the second out.

The Chanticleers went to southpaw Austin Kerr, but Ryan Hodge kept the ‘Dogs alive by coaxing a walk. Coastal brought righty Patrick Corbett in from the pen, and he struck out JJ Nazzaro on four pitches to end the game.

Gardner-Webb jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second, taking advantage of three walks and a pair of singles. John Harris and Rundio drew consecutive walks with one out, and Johnson looped a single into right to load the bases. A grounder forced Harris out at home for the second out of the inning, but Hodge drew a free pass to drive in the first run of the game. Nazzaro then drove home a run with a single through the right side before Coastal ace Ben Smith got out of the jam.

The Chanticleers got its offense on track in the third, getting a pair of men on with one out. Ted Blackman was hit by a pitch and Jacob May legged out a bunt single to start the threat. Jake Kane roped a single to left to load the bases, and Alex Buccilli tied the game with a two-run double off the wall in left center.

Colin Herring roped another ball that Brad Collins snagged at first, then threw home to cut down Kane at the plate for the second out of the inning. GWU starter Andrew Barnett got out of the inning with a fly ball to keep the game tied.

Gardner-Webb got a pair of singles to mount a threat in the top of the fifth, but Smith worked out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts and a ground ball. Hodge singled to center, stole second and moved to third on an infield single by Nazzaro.

Page 2 of 2 - Coastal pushed in front in the bottom half of the fifth, when Blackman hammered 3-2 pitch to the base of the wall in right center for a leadoff double. A long fly ball from May moved Blackman to third and Kane plated the go-ahead run with an RBI groundout. Buccilli followed with a sharp single up the middle, but was thrown out at second base to end the inning.

Smith gave way to sidearm relief ace Connolly, who retired Gardner-Webb without incident in the seventh and eighth.

Smith (5-3) fanned nine Gardner-Webb batters and scattered five hits over 6.0 innings of work for the win. The Chanticleers collected seven hits, with Buccilli (2-for-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Kane (2-for-4) leading the way. Corbett faced one batter for his fourth save of the season.

Barnett (5-3) was up to 92 mph on the Liberty Baseball Stadium radar gun Wednesday, but was saddled with the loss after allowing three runs on seven hits in 7.0 innings on the bump. Barnett fanned three and walked just one. Mitch Warner tossed a perfect eighth inning to keep Gardner-Webb within striking distance.

Hodge (2-for-2, RBI) and Nazzaro (2-for-5, RBI) helped Gardner-Webb post an eight-hit day at the plate.